Back and Next - Back and Next30 complete election observation training
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Thirty members of the Civil Society Organisation (CSO) Coalition on elections in The Gambia, on Friday, completed a three-day intensive training on election observation at the Association of Farmers' Educators and Traders (AFET) Headquarters in Brikama, Western Region.
The training fully prepared members of the CSO Coalition for election observation, ahead of the National Assembly elections, slated for January 25, this year. The coalition is coordinated by the West Africa Network for Peace Building (Wanep), The Gambia.
During the three-day UNDP and the US Embassy-funded training, participants were trained on a wide range of areas including, elections observation, National Assembly elections, principles and ethics of election observation, safety and security, voting process and civic education. It has brought the total number of domestic election observers from 69 during the presidential elections to 120.
At the end of the training, the newly trained 30 home based election observers took a pledge to execute their in line with the ethics and principles of election observation. They also assured, among others professionalism and loyalty to the CSO coalition.
Delivering a closing statement, Manlafi Gassama, National President of AFET, expressed confidence in the ability of the observers to implement their duties according to the dictates of election observation. “You have been trained to implement what you have learned. And I have no doubt that you are capable of doing that,” he said.
Pamela Cole, National Coordinator of Wanep, implored on the participants to rise above political interest and serve towards the democratic advancement of the country. “You should always remember that your job is just to observe and report on the elections accurately and objectively,” she emphasised.
Ms Cole disclosed that a meeting would be convened in Banjul, where strategies for the deployment of the CSO Coalition election observers, would be discussed.
She lauded the participants for demonstrating the enthusiasm and commitment during the course of the training.
The training fully prepared members of the CSO Coalition for election observation, ahead of the National Assembly elections, slated for January 25, this year. The coalition is coordinated by the West Africa Network for Peace Building (Wanep), The Gambia.
During the three-day UNDP and the US Embassy-funded training, participants were trained on a wide range of areas including, elections observation, National Assembly elections, principles and ethics of election observation, safety and security, voting process and civic education. It has brought the total number of domestic election observers from 69 during the presidential elections to 120.
At the end of the training, the newly trained 30 home based election observers took a pledge to execute their in line with the ethics and principles of election observation. They also assured, among others professionalism and loyalty to the CSO coalition.
Delivering a closing statement, Manlafi Gassama, National President of AFET, expressed confidence in the ability of the observers to implement their duties according to the dictates of election observation. “You have been trained to implement what you have learned. And I have no doubt that you are capable of doing that,” he said.
Pamela Cole, National Coordinator of Wanep, implored on the participants to rise above political interest and serve towards the democratic advancement of the country. “You should always remember that your job is just to observe and report on the elections accurately and objectively,” she emphasised.
Ms Cole disclosed that a meeting would be convened in Banjul, where strategies for the deployment of the CSO Coalition election observers, would be discussed.
She lauded the participants for demonstrating the enthusiasm and commitment during the course of the training.
Author: Written by Musa Ndow
Source: The Daily Observer
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